Capcom "Re-evaluating" DLC Policy

Capcom found themselves in a spot of hot water with fans over Street Fighter X Tekken, coming under fire for including locked DLC on the game disc. However, it would appear that the company has taken note of the criticism, stating that it's looking into "re-evaluating" their policies towards additional game content.

Capcom are, of course, the publisher that stated a few weeks ago that there was "no difference between DLC and locked disc content".

We would like to assure you that we have been listening to your comments and as such have begun the process of re-evaluating how such additional game content is delivered in the future," Capcom US boss Christian Svensson stated on Capcom Unity.

"As this process has only just commenced in the past month or so, there will be some titles, where development began some time ago and that are scheduled for release in the coming months, for which we are unable to make changes to the way some of their post release content is delivered."

That includes Dragon's Dogma, out next week, a game that Svensson said will include some but not all of the game's DLC as locked content on the disc.

"The decision to include some additional (but not all planned additional) game content for the game on disc was made at the beginning of the game's development cycle as at the time this was determined to be the most efficient way of ensuring certain content was made available," he said.

"Owners of Dragon's Dogma will be able to further their gameplay experience with the release of additional quests, weapons and other items in the months following the game going on sale."

Of course, this is all missing the point, somewhat, which surely revolves around the ethical considerations that come with creating supplemental material alongside "the main game". The idea that the final game is simply a package deemed "enough" to warrant the price tag, with ready-made DLC designed to further monetise fans, is a little suspect.